Jonny Howson admits the pressure of the promotion race can be hard to handle but believes the Rockliffe mix of experience and fearless youth stands Boro in good stead in the run-in.

Boro have spent the international break trying to get three damaging defeats out of their system and this weekend's visit of league leaders Norwich, while undoubtedly and obviously difficult, offers the perfect opportunity to spark the promotion push back into life.

Boro have stuttered at a bad time and with the chasing pack closing fast the pressure is on in a crunch spell of games. Howson, who has been there and done it, admits that pressure can take its toll - but says Boro are well stocked to cope.

What will help their cause, he says, is the vast experience in their ranks and the number of players who have been here before. John Obi Mikel has won everything in the game, players such as George Friend, Dani Ayala, Adam Clayton and Stewart Downing have all won promotion with Boro and Howson himself went up with Norwich.

The reliable midfielder reckons that nous will be extremely useful, but also believes Boro will benefit from the fearlessness of youth, with the likes of Lewis Wing, Dael Fry and Marcus Tavernier all crucial members of the squad.

"Experience can help, and off the pitch you speak to the lads, but then sometimes you look at the flip side and the younger lads don't realise the situation they are in," says Howson.

"It works both ways.

"It's about holding your nerve, and sometimes that can be the difference. Over the season, the table doesn't lie, and you're at a roughly similar level to the teams you're going to be playing in and around.

"Sometimes, it's who can hold their nerve, keep that focus and not allow the position or the situation to get to you. That can be difficult at times, but we're an honest group and we'll give it everything we've got."

Pulis welcomed back some of his internationals to Rockliffe yesterday, with George Saville and Paddy McNair both returning after a successful stint away with Northern Ireland.

The players are off today but Pulis will have his full squad back together tomorrow as Boro step up their preparations for the visit of table-topping Norwich on Saturday evening.

Howson can't wait. Not only is it the chance to go up against his former side, but it's a pressure cooker game where so much is on the line for both sides, with the midfielder of the belief that can bring the best out of Boro.

"This is going to be a big phase of the season, but this is why we play football," he said.

"We want to be involved in games like these."

The Norwich game kick-starts a flurry of one vital fixture after another. Just three days after the visit of the Canaries, play-off rivals Bristol City head for Teesside. Then comes two crucial away trips to Swansea City and Bolton, leaving just a handful of games.

"There are going to be no easy games in the run-in now," says Howson.

"Every one is going to be a big game. We'll take one game at a time and we'll concentrate on ourselves. For me personally, it does no good looking above or below you because the only thing we can affect is our next game against Norwich and that's what we'll do."